Cerro Negro Volcano, Laguna El Tigre, and León Viejo.

Hike Central America’s youngest (and one of the most active) volcano, Cerro Negro. The climb to the summit is like walking the surface of the moon: devoid of plant life, spewing sulfuric gases, crumbling beneath your feet. The only thing you’ll miss is the weightlessness.

After hiking Cerro Negro, a refreshing dip in Laguna El Tigre will feel like heaven. Enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch and take in the beauty of this pristine crater lake, whose name actually refers to a jaguar due to misnaming by the Spanish.

Restored from Asososca we head to León Viejo, or “Old Leon”, to experience what is let of the second oldest city in Nicaragua. Abandoned in fear of a volcanic eruption which never happened, the city was gradually buried by expulsions of ash and volcanic stone. What we see today is a result of excavation that began in 1967.

Finally, there’s no better way to end an epic day of adventure, culture and history than to top it off with an incredible dinner and one a mariachi singer whose voice will tug at your heart whether you speak Spanish or not. The best of Leon tour will send you to bed satiated physically, mentally and spiritually.

Cerro Negro means ‘Black Hill’, and it is the perfect description of this truly unique volcano. The Cerro Negro volcano was formed less than 160 years ago (in 1850) and that makes it the youngest volcano of Central America. The volcano’s young age and constant volcanic activity have made it impossible for trees and plants to grow on the steep, black slopes. Some slopes are covered by huge volcanic rocks, others by fine volcanic sand.

The most recent eruption of the Cerro Negro took place in 1999. Glowing lava violently erupted from the volcano, as well as rocks and ash. The ash caused damages in the city of León, 25 kilometers away. A new crater was formed during recent eruptions. The Cerro Negro is one of the most active and most interesting volcanoes in the region.

One of the most significant landmarks in Nicaragua is the Momotombo Volcano. This almost perfect cone-shaped stratovolcano can be seen from many places, including Nicaragua’s capital city Managua as well as the northern city of Matagalpa, over 100 kilometers away. The Momotombo has erupted several times in the last couple of centuries, most recently in 1905. There are several settlements close by that have been and continue to be threatened by the volcano’s eruptions of lava, smoke, and ash. For more than a century the volcano has been relatively quiet, although gases are continuously emitted and the temperatures of certain parts of the volcano exceed 500°C. A geothermal plant has been set up at the base of the volcano, producing electricity from the volcano’s heat.

Bring your hiking shoes, as these volcanoes are the real deal. If hiking is your thing, or you would just like to enjoy the best view in Nicaragua, ask us about our volcano tours when making your booking.